GB2162032A

GB2162032A - Soil cultivation device

Info

Publication number: GB2162032A
Application number: GB08513020A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hermann Groth; Ignaz Becker
Original assignee: Rabewerk Heinrich Clausing
Current assignee: Rabewerk Heinrich Clausing
Priority date: 1984-05-23
Filing date: 1985-05-23
Publication date: 1986-01-29
Also published as: DK226885A; DE3419174C2; GB2162032B; DK226885D0; FR2564690A1; GB8513020D0; FR2564690B1; DE3419174A1

Abstract

A device frame (60) of a soil cultivation device, on which tools e.g. packing discs (80) are held, is movable about a vertical axis relative to a support frame (59) which is connected to the three point connection on the front of a tractor. The device frame (60) is restored to its central position relative to the support frame (59) after a steering movement of the tractor by means of a restoring device (R1) which is constituted by converging struts (64, 65). The device frame (60), which is slung beneath the support frame (59) by vertical struts (69, 70, 71), is drawn by the converging struts (64, 65). Chains (76, 77) limit the movement of the device frame. In a further embodiment, the device frame is movable relative to the support frame also about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of the soil cultivation device. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Soil cultivation device The invention relates to a soil cultivation device, particularly to a device for attachmentto the front end of a tractor and having a device frame which supports the soil cultivation tools and a supportframe which can be connected to the front end of the tractor, preferably to a three-point rod system mounted there and on which the device frame is suspended in a movable manner so that it can pivot relative to the supportframe about a vertical axis and also possibly a horizontal axis which extends in the direction of travel, a restoring device being provided which on the one hand engages on the supportframe and on the other hand onthe deviceframeand attempsto orientatethe device frame towards the centre of the supportframe.

Front attachment of soil cultivation devices is being used increasingly. This has been made possible as a result of increasing tractor sizes and capacities. The advantage offront attachment isthat an additional device can be used, which could not be used in the case of rear attachment, because the lifting ofthe device combination would no longer be possible.

Tractor steering is problematic in the case of front attachment, because the device would have to be displaced laterally during steering movements. A large number of attachable devices, including land packers, can, however, only be displaced laterally with great difficulty. However, in orderto perform certain steering movements, the two frames were mounted so as to be movable relative to one another (DE--939 960,DE-31 36 869).

The aim ofthis invention isto propose a restoring device which on the one hand makes possible sufficiently easy lateral displacement between the frames and on the other hand has sufficiently large restoring forces, the length ofthe device not having to be increased excessively as a result of the restoring device.

In order to attain this aim it is first proposed thatthe restoring device comprises a guide rod gearing which, viewed in the direction of travel, is mounted at the front of the appliance, and has a base on the support frame and a base on the device frame and has an ideal traction pointwhich lies ata considerable distance in front ofthe gear members.

In a restoring device designed in this way the restoring is effected by traction. Considerable restor ing forces can thus be achieved with a relatively small device length, by using gearing with an ideal traction point. A particularly simple guide rod gearing which has few parts comprises a pair of guides pivoted on the device frame and which are parallel or converge in the forward direction and are pivotally mounted on the supportframe. Guide rod gearing of this type with forward-converging guides has the feature that the ideal traction point performs a greater lateral deflection than the real traction point, which would be arranged atthe same distance in front ofthe appliance.

Advantageously the displacement possibilities between the two frames are limited, for example by limiting stops preventing lateral migration, or by inextensible but flexible traction elements such as chains. As a matter of expedience, the arrangement of the joint members is in a horizontal plane at the height ofthe device frame which is preferably horizontal.

In anotherform of the invention it is further proposed that the restoring device, viewed in the direction of travel, comprises a traction device which is mounted on the front ofthe device and which has two traction connections, which are arranged on both sides ofthevertical longitudinal plane ofthe device which extends in the direction of travel, a clearance being provided on each traction connection so that they cannot convey the rearwards-directed forces between support frame and device frame or can only convey the said forces after a certain path of movement.

In the case of a device designed in this way a uni-directional force occurs when the support frame is pivoted relative to the device frame, as occurs in the case of steering movements ofthe tractor The uni-directional traction force effects a restoring force which attempts to re-orientate the device frame towardsthe centre ofthe support frame.

The traction connections can be made with particular ease using by means of a bolt mounted on one frame engaging in a slot in the other frame and, extending inthedirection of travel. The connections then comprise in each case a tension bolt which engages in an oblong hole. The oblong holes can in this case preferably be formed in the manner of a curve centred on the axis ofthe pin in the other slot.

Straight oblong holes can also be provided which then extend preferably along tangents or arcs ofthe curves.

Asimple and secure coupling is obtained using a socket in which a plate engages.

Afurther development of the invention which can be used in both aspects ofthe invention, consists in that the device frame is supported on the support frame by means of vertical guides which are pivoted by means of universal joints on the frames. In this way, if required, large forces can be conveyed to the device frame, without preventing the lateral displace mentoftheframes relative to one another. Thus a guide arrangement as indicated in which the guides and frames form a vertical parallelogram is particularly expedient.

Preferably the universal joints connecting the vertical guides and frames have ball bearings having axes extending in the direction of travel. Preferably joint members of the restoring device have ball bearings mounted on vertical axes.

Universal joints ofthistype can perform relatively large pivot movements about the axes which extend parallel to the direction of travel, thus their arrange mentissuchthatthe large pivot movementstake place primarily about the axis, whereas smaller pivot movements, which occur in addition in the case of universal displacement of the frames relative to one another, take place by means ofthe ball bearings. The device is preferably designed so that support frame and device frame are lockable relative to one another for rear attachment. The device can then also be used for rear attachment, if required, without any disadvantage whatsoever. With regard to design, the lock can be formed by cotter pins.

The soil cultivation device can be made in a different manner. It can, for example, be designed as a land packer. It is thus advantageous to mountthe packer rings so thatthey are rotatable independently of one another. This facilitates the steerability of the device combination according to type. The invention will be further described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. is a side view of a device designed as a land packer according to a first embodiment ofthe invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view onto the device in the direction ofthearrowll in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view of a device which is also designed as a land packer according to a second embodimentofthe invention.

Fig. 4 is a section along line IV-IV in Fig. 3.

The device G1 according to Figs. 1 and 2 has a supportframe 59 and a device frame 60. The device frame is suspended on the supportframe 59so asto be movable. The supportframe 59 has a horizontal straight beam 3 to which a perpendicular beam 4 and a beam 5 which projects obliquelyforwards atthe bottom are welded rigidly. On the supportframe 1 a small projection 6 is disposed which comprises two parallel plates and which has pivoting holes7forthe three-point rod system on the front end of a tractor. A transverse axis 8 is disposed at the lower end of the perpendicular beam 4. The transverse axis penetrates vertical slots 9which are arranged in plates 10 which are connected laterally to a horizontal transverse beam 4a so as to project downwards. The transverse beam 4a is welded to the perpendicular beam 4.On the ends of the transverse axis 8 are pins 11 and 12for connecting the transverse axis to the lower guides of a tractorthree-point rod system. The vertical slots 9 mean thatthe transverse axis 8 can pivot relative to the supportframe 59 about a horizontal axis which extends in the direction of travel.

On the lower ends ofthe plates 10 are bore holes 12 in which locking bolts 13 are displaceable. The casing containing the bore hole 12 is penetrated by a bore hole 14, through which a locking pin can be inserted, which can also be inserted through a transverse bore hole in the locking bolt 13. On the rear end ofthe locking bolt 13 is a handle 15 which makes possible a smooth longitudinal displacement of the locking bolt Each locking boltcan be inserted through a hole 16 which is arranged on lugs 17welded onto the device frame 60. The inserted positions can be locked with the same locking pin which also locks the retracted position. The locking pin is then inserted through a fronttransverse bore hole 18 ofthe locking bolt 13.

Guides 64 and 65 are pivoted on the oblique beam 61 by means of universal joints 62. The guides 64,65 are pivoted via further universal joints 66,67 on the device frame 60. The universal joints are made in the same way. They have in each case a ball bearing 20 on which a ring 21 is disposed, so as to be universally movable. The ball bearing 20 hasatransverse bore holethrough which a.bolt 22 is inserted. Large pivoting movements can be effected aboutthe boit22 as required. The pivptability of the ring 21 aboutthe ball bearing 20 is limited, but is sufficiently large for the displacements occurring there. The journals for the front ends of the guides 64, 65 extend from the plate 68 downwards.The rear universal joints 66,67 engage in the forks which are formed by plates welded onto the device frame 60.

Two vertical guides 69,70 are usedforfurther connection between the support frame 59 andthe device frame 60. The said guides are secured to lateral extension arms 25 and 26 which are welded to the horizontal beam 3. Each extension arm comprises two parallel plates and forms a fork in which joints 27 and 28 are received. The joints 27,28 are made in the same way as the joint 63 which is described in more detail.

However,the bolts on which the ball bearings are mounted do not extend vertically as in the case ofthe joint 63, but in the direction oftravel (symbolised by the arrow F). The lower ends ofthe guides 69,70 are securedtothedeviceframe by means of additional universal joints 29.To this end, on the device frame 60 are plates 30,31 between which the joints 29 engage.

Likewise in the case ofthe lower joints 29 the bolt projects in the direction of travel.

The deviceframe 60 is a rectangularframewith frame sides 32 to 35. The vertical guides 69,70 which have already been mentioned engage on the frame side 34. The said frame side, the extension arms 25,26 and the guides 69, 70togetherform a parallelogram.

The supportframe 59 is connected to the device frame 60 via an additional guide 71 which is mounted in the transverse centre (dot-and-dash line 72) ofthe device. The additional guide 71 is pivoted to a universal joint73 on the supportframe and on the device frame 60 by a universal joint 74. The securing bolts for all universal joints, with which the guides 69, 70,71 are secured, extend in the direction of travel.

The device G1 operates as follows. The device is drawn atthe ideal traction point 75. The ideal traction point 75 is the result of a theoretical extension of the guides 64,65. The traction point 75 is therefore relatively far in front ofthe device, without the device having to be of excessive length. When steering movements are performed with thetractor, the supportframe 59 will usually be oblique relative to the device frame 60, the traction point 75 also being displaced laterally.

An oblique position between the frames 59 and 60 is shown in Fig. 2 with dot-and-dash lines. The transverse centre ofthe device frame is symbolised by the dot-and-dash line72'. can be seen,the traction point 75 has migrated laterallyfrom thesupportframe and the transverse centre ofthe device frame, the restoring force being further increased.

The path of the lateral swinging-out downwards (seen in Fig. 2) is limited by tensioning a chain 76 which extends diagonally across the four-partarti- culation and is loose in the case of central orientation oftheframes 59, 60 towards one another. After tensioning the chain 76 a further swinging out atthe bottom is no longer possible. The swinging-out upwards is restricted by a chain 77. Because ofthe new position of the traction point 75 the tractionforce attempts to draw back the device frame again into its central position.

The bolts with which the universaljoints are held extend so that in the case of large pivottan'glesthe pivoting occurs about the bolts and the pivot move ment only occurs aboutthe ball bearings for the smaller pivot angles.

When the device is to be used for rear attachment, the pivotability between the frames 59 and 60 is thus stopped, so thatthe locking bolts 13 are inserted through the holes 16 and are locked in the inserted position.

The device G2 Of Figs. 3 and 4 has a support frame 1 and a device frame 2, carrying soil cultivation tools in the form of packing discs 80.

Afork82 projects downwards from a horizontal beam 81 of the supportframe 1. A reartransverse beam 83 of the rectangularly formed device frame 2 engages between the arms 82a and 82b of thefork 82.

The-upper side 83a ofthe rear transverse beam 83 co-operates with a roller 84 which is mounted on a bearing pin 85 between the fork arms 82a and 82b.

Below the transverse beam 83 there is a bolt 86 which bridges overthefork and which prevents the support arm 1 from being lifted offthe deviceframe 2.

Atthefrontendthesupportframe 1 hasa perpendicular downward projecting beam 87 on which a socket 89 is pivoted by means of a joint bolt 88.

In the opening 89a of the socket 89 a plate 90 engages which is welded to the device frame 2. In the plate 90 are two curved holes 91 and 92, through which tension bolts 93 and 94 penetrate. The tension bolts 93,94 cannot move relative to the socket 89; they are penetrated bythe upper wall 89b and the lower wall 89c ofthe socket 89.

The central point of the curve ofthe hole 91 lies in the axis of the bolt 94 and the central point ofthe curve ofthe hole 92 lies in the axis ofthe bolt 93.

The device G2 operates as follows. In normal forward driving theframes 1 and 2 adoptthe position relative to one another, which is shown in the drawings. The supportframe drawsthedeviceframe 2 via the two tension bolts 93 and 94which rest against thefrontends ofthe holes 91 and 92 and which are arranged on both sides ofthe longitudinal central plane 96 ofthe device.

When the tractor makes a steering deviation, the supportframe 1 is displaced relative to the device frame 2, as the deviceframethen attempts to maintain its position by engaging the soil cultivation tools 80 in the soil 95. It should be assumed that the roller 84 seen in Fig. 4 moves downwards when the supportframe performs a turning movement. This meansthatthe front end ofthe hole 91 is lifted offthetension bolt 93 is and only the bolt 94 still exerts traction forces on the device frame 2. The only traction force still exerted via the tension bolt exerts a force on the device frame 2 which attempts to orientate the device frame towards the centre ofthe supportframe 1.Central orientation is obtained when both bolts 93 and 94 again rest against the front ends of their associated holes 91 and 92 and thetraction force is exerted on both bolts. Ion a pivoting of the type where the roller 84, seen in Fig. 4, migrates upwards, a similar process takes place, the unidirectional traction of the tension bolt 93 effecting the restoring force.

Both devices G1 and G2 have the common feature thatthe traction force on the device effects the restoring to the usual position.

Thepivotabilityofthesupportframe 1 relativetothe deviceframe 2 is limited bythe longitudinal extension ofthe holes 91,92. The maximum deviation occurs when a tension bolt rests againstthe front end of its associated hole and the other tension bolt rests against the rear end of its associated hole.

Claims

1. Asoil cultivation device for attachment to the front end of a tractor, comprising a device frame for supporting a soil cultivation tool, and a support frame which is connectable to the front end of the tractor, preferably to a three-point rod system disposed there and on which the device frame is suspended in a movable manner in such a way that it can pivot relative to the support frame about a vertical axis and possibly a horizontal axis which extends in the direction of travel, a restoring device being provided which on the one hand engages on the supportframe and on the other hand on the device frame and attempts to orientate the device frame relative to the supportframe, characterised inthatthe restoring device comprises guide rod gearing which, viewed in the direction of travel, is mounted atthe front of the device and has base on the supportframe and a base on the device frame and an ideal traction point which lies at a considerable distance from the gearing members.

2. Asoil cultivation device according to claim 1 characterised in that the guide rod gearing hastwo guides pivoted on the device frame, which guides converge in the forward direction or are parallel and are pivoted attheirfront ends on the support frame.

3. Asoil cultivation device according to claim 1 or 2,characterised by limiting means which limits the lateral migration ofthe ideal traction point.

4. A soil cultivation device according to claim 3 characterised inthatthe limiting means comprise inextensible, but flexible traction elements, preferably chains, which are arranged diagonally on the guide rod gearing.

5. A soil cultivation device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide rod gearing members lie in a plane, preferably in a horizontal plane, preferably at the height of device frame which is preferably designed to be substantially horizontal.

6. A soil cultivation device for attachment to the front end of a tractor, comprising a device frame which supports a soil cultivation tool, and a support frame which can be connected to the front end ofthe tractor preferably to a three-point rod system mounted there and on which the deviceframe is suspended in a movable manner in such a way that it can pivot relative to the support frame about a vertical axis and possibly a horizontal axis which extends in the direction of travel, a restoring device being provided which on the one hand engages on the supportframe and on the other hand on the device frame and attempts to orientate the device frame relative to the support frame, characterised in that the restoring device comprises a traction device which, viewed in the direction of travel, is mounted at the front ofthe device and which has two traction connections which are mounted on both sides of the longitudinal centre plane of the device, which plane extends vertically in the direction oftravel, a clearance being provided on each traction connection in such a way that they cannot convey rearwardly directed forces between supportframe and device frame or can only convey the said forces after a certain path of movement between the support frame and the device frame.

7. Asoil cultivation device according to claim 6, characterised in that each traction connection comprises a boltwhich is mounted on the supportframe or on the device frame and which engages in a slotwhich extends in the direction oftravel and which is arranged on the device frame or on the supportframe.

8. A soil cultivation device according to claim 7, characterised in that the slots are curved, the centre of the curve being coincident with the axis of the pin associated with the other slot.

9. Asoil cultivation device accordingto claim 7 or 8, characterised in thatthe slots are arranged in a plate which is disposed on the deviceframe oron the support frame and which engages in a socket or in a fork, which is disposed on the supportframe or on the device frame and is penetrated by the bolts.

10. A soil cultivation device according to any one ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that the device frame is supported on the support frame via vertical guides which are pivoted by means of universal joints on the frames.

11. A soil cultivation device according to claim 10, characterised in that the universal joints have ball bearings which are mounted on axes which extend parallel to the direction of travel.

12. A soil cultivation device according to any one ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that the parts ofthe restoring device, i.e. the joint members of the guide rod gearing, according to any one of claims 1 to 5, are pivoted by means of universal joints.

13. A soil cultivation device accordingto claim 12, characterised in that the universal joints have ball bearings which are mounted on axes which extend vertically.

14. Asoil cultivation device according to anyone of claims 10 to 13, characterised in that two guides together with the frames form a vertical parallelogram.

15. A soil cultivation device according to claim 14 characterised in thatthe parallelogram is arranged in the rear region ofthe device and that in the front region in the transverse centre ofthe device a vertical guide is mounted orthe supportframe is connected to the device frame in the transverse centre of the device so as to be universally movable.

16. Asoilcultivation device according to anyone ofthe preceding claims, characterised in that support frame and device frame are lockable relative to one anotherfor rear attachmentto tractor.

17. A soil cultivation device according to claim 16 characterised in that on the supportframe or on the device frame, cotter pins are guided which can be inserted into boreholes on the deviceframe or on the supportframe.

18. A soil cultivation device accordingto any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the operation tools are packer rings.

19. A soil cultivation device according to claim 18, characterised in that the rings are rotatable indepen dentlyofone another

20. A soil cultivation device, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 ofthe accompanying drawings.